Interviews

Yuke's Breaks Down SmackDown Online

GameSpy: How much work has gone into the process of swapping created superstars online?

Yuke's: In terms of this feature, we have made it possible for players to swap their created superstars with someone else's created superstars. When it comes to the time for the process, we spent about one month to make this feature come true.

GameSpy: What is the process for creating each mode for play, and how long does it take from start to finish?

Yuke's: Every time we upgrade our game engine or offer a game for different hardware, we need to port the existing code for each mode to the new engine. Also, when we change basic designs, creating new codes are necessary. Our process for creating each mode is firstly setting our final goal in the game; secondly creating design to realize the goal; then making necessary materials and codes and finally completing the mode through a trial and error process. Man hours to create a mode vary dramatically depending on each mode.

GameSpy: What have been the most dramatic differences between creating this wrestling game for a Western audience and making games for Japanese fans?

Yuke's: Both Japanese and the U.S. pro-wrestling fans are reality-oriented. But, the performance itself is very different between WWE and Japan pro wrestling. In that regard, the direction to the final product is different. When it comes to the game development for Japanese gamers, we will follow our own sense of fun since we are Japanese. When we create games for the SmackDown vs. Raw series, we make the game by analyzing what makes a Western audience interested. This is the biggest difference. I don't think it is a disadvantage for us. It is our virtue because we can judge objectively what is exciting and fun for Western gamers, and we can make it into the game. Our team members are big fans of WWE, and we develop wrestling games with passion. Our passion will not go out of control since we think about the taste of Western audience objectively. The SmackDown vs. Raw series has evolved interestingly, and it is a product of synergy effect among Japanese staff, American staff and our Western game fans.